It’s a long, long time in rugby terms since October 18 – and that’s the last time Penrith recorded a win.
So the relief was palpable at Winters Park they snatched a 33-30 win at the death against fellow strugglers Middlesbrough.
The North East side were one point ahead of the Cumbrians at the foot of the league table and a loss for either side would be disastrous so there was much at stake.
Although the home side started brightly their first half performance left a lot to be desired as they made a series of telling mistakes and lost possession far too easily on far too many occasions.
They found themselves behind after only five minutes from a line-out following a penalty kicked to the corner but were soon back on level terms.
They had a penalty of their own which Rob Coward kicked into the visitors’ 22. Ant Davis secured possession and the home forwards drove for the line but were held up illegally and a penalty was given.
Fraser Nicolson had it taken in a flash and almost made it to the line before his forwards piled in, they drove over the line and it was captain on the day, Scott Lancaster, who came up with the try and the scores were tied at five apiece.
Penrith then conceded two tries in two minutes, both from mistakes. An attempted pass out of contact went straight to the opposition and the visitors’ pacy backs took full advantage and spread the ball wide to score in the corner.
From the re-start the visitors’ scrum half hoisted a box kick that was dropped and again the visitors took full advantage to score.
The home side pegged them back following a clean break from stand off by Coward.
He still had plenty to do after breaking the first line of defence but a neat dummy left the last two defenders stranded, grasping at thin air as he sped in under the posts. Coward’s conversion pulled his side back within three points at 12-15.
Another mistake gave the visitors a good attacking position when a kick from just outside the 22 went directly into touch. From the attacking line-out they broke from the front almost to the line and when they span the ball quickly right there was a clear overlap which resulted in a converted try.
On the stroke of half time the home side were lucky not to concede a fifth try as a try-scoring pass went into touch when it would have been easier for the visitors to score!
The Cumbrians still had a mountain to climb trailing 12-22 at the break. Their task became even harder as they did concede a fifth try just into the second half followed by a penalty under the posts to be three scores adrift at 12-30.
However, as the game went into the final quarter it was the home side who were making all the running. Middlesbrough were either tiring, or thought they had already done enough, or probably both.
The Cumbrians finally turned their pressure into points when Nicolson took a quick tap and made for the line.
Jay Rossi was in support and his nicely timed pass gave Ben Littleton, just back from injury, a clear run in at the corner and he took full advantage to speed in.
Importantly Coward knocked the conversion over off the touchline.
Time was running out, but with ten minutes to go they had a chance to kick to the corner but the ball went dead. Still they battled on and with five minutes to go they got a second chance with another attacking line-out.
This time they did gain possession and it was a bulldozing effort from Adam Howe that got them within a score at 30-26.
The game was now going down to the wire and the Middlesbrough players were starting to panic and their discipline suffered.
They gave away a series of penalties as they got more desperate, starting with a high tackle in the home 22.
Then on half-way a penalty and a yellow card before ten yards out they were pinged for offside. Advantage was played but there was none so the play came back and Nicolson was off again from the tap.
Sam Wilson was with him and he, and then. Howe drove the ball to the line. Wilson was involved again and Rossi stepped back inside three defenders and almost made the line but Jack Gaskell was there to pick and drive over for the winning score amid wild celebrations.
The game had gone deep into stoppage time because of the string of penalties and there was only time for Coward to stroke the conversion over to complete a remarkable comeback.
Penrith had finally won a game at the death and there is a chink of light in their fight against relegation. Now they have actually won a game after a terrible run a bit of self-belief should return and with perhaps with another player or two back they can maintain their level five status.
